Hair Roller Winder

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a motorized hair roller winder, comprising a handle and a rotary drum driven by a motor allowing, during use, to wind a lock of hair around said hair roller fixed beforehand on the winder, characterized in that said winder comprises integrated heating means allowing to heat the hair roller until said hair roller is removed from the rotary drum.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hairstyling device, and in particular a motorized hair roller winder comprising heating means integrated into the winder for said hair roller.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Motorized hair roller winders are well known by those skilled in the art. Examples include documents U.S. Pat. No. 4,222,398, U.S. Pat. No. 3,605,762, U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,583 and US 2005/0199257 disclosing motorized hair roller winders in different forms.

Furthermore, various heating means for hair rollers are also well known by those skilled in the art, as shown by documents US 2005/0000954, U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,355, WO 2011/015874 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,184. In these cases, the hair rollers are heated in a separate device by conduction, convection or induction before being applied on a motorized winder to be used for winding a lock of hair.

Document US 2005/0123286A1 discloses a hair dryer with a rotary brush. The rotary brush is not designed to be removed from the device once the hair lock is wound around it. It therefore does not disclose a hair roller winder for hair rollers designed to remain in the user's hair. It consequently does not involve a hair roller winder within the meaning of the present invention.

The independent management of the heating of the hair rollers and of the motorized winding thereof is simple in particular because there is no risk of overheating the winding motor, but the primary drawbacks of this approach lie in excessively quick cooling of the hair rollers, due to their handling before winding of the hair lock, and the lack of temperature control during application of the hair roller on the user's head.

AIM OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the state of the art, and in particular to combine motorized winding means for hair rollers and heating means for those same hair rollers within a same device so as to allow the hair roller to be heated up and/or kept at temperature until it is freed from its rotation drum.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a motorized hair roller winder, comprising a handle and a rotary drum driven by a motor allowing, during use, to wind a lock of hair around said hair roller previously fixed on the winder, characterized in that said winder comprises integrated heating means allowing to heat said hair roller until said hair roller is removed from the rotary drum.

The preferred embodiments of the invention comprise at least one, or any suitable combination, of the following features:

-   -   the winder comprises a mechanism for locking and unlocking the         hair roller on the rotary drum;     -   the winder comprises a mechanism for automatically engage         heating when the hair roller is fixed on the rotary drum;     -   the winder comprises a torsion-limiting mechanism;     -   the handle is located in the axis of the winder;     -   the winder comprises an ion generator;     -   the heating means for the winder use hot-air heating, conduction         heating or induction heating;     -   the heating means for the winder use hot-air heating;     -   the driving drum of the winder with the hot-air heating means         comprises air outlet holes allowing the hot air to be in contact         with the hair roller and to heat it instantaneously;     -   the motor driving the rotation of the drum is located in the         handle, or in the rotary drum of the hair roller.

The present invention also discloses a method for winding a lock of hair around a hair roller using the hair roller winder according to the invention, comprising the following steps:

-   -   fastening a hair roller on the rotary drum of the hair roller         winder;     -   activating the heating means of the hair roller;     -   winding a lock of hair around the hair roller by actuating the         rotary drum using a rotation switch;     -   releasing the hair roller.

The present invention lastly discloses a hair styling kit comprising a hair roller winder according to the invention and a set of hair rollers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows three hair rollers of different diameters nevertheless having universal coupling allowing to adapt all hair roller diameters on the same rotary drum.

FIG. 2 shows an overall view of the hair roller winder according to the invention with a hair roller locked on the rotary drum.

FIG. 3 shows an overall view of one of the embodiments of the hair roller winder according to the invention with hot-air heating where the driving motor for the rotary drum is located in the handle, the air arriving on the hair roller through air outlet holes on the rotary drum.

FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of the hair roller winder according to the invention with its microswitch for activating the heating means and optionally measuring the temperature on the rotary drum. This detailed view also shows the button for unlocking the hair roller and the bi-directional switch for rotating the rotary drum.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show 3D and cross-sectional views of another embodiment of the hair roller winder according to the invention with hot-air heating where the motor for driving the rotary drum is located in the rotary drum itself and where the latter comprises an insulator for protecting it from the hot air.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show 3D and cross-sectional views of one embodiment of the hair roller winder according to the invention with conduction heating where the motor for driving the rotary drum is located in the handle and where the rotary drum is provided with a heating core designed to transmit its heat to the hair roller by conduction.

FIG. 9 shows a 3D and cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the hair roller winder according to the invention with induction heating where the motor for driving the rotary drum is located in the handle and where the rotary drum is provided with an induction coil designed to heat ferromagnetic hair rollers.

FIGS. 10 to 15 show the method for winding a lock of hair around a hair roller using the hair roller winder according to the invention.

FIG. 16 shows a detailed view of different means for attaching the hair lock on the hair roller.

KEY

-   1. Hair roller winder -   2. Rotary drum -   3. Air outlet hole -   4. Handle -   5. On/Off switch -   6. Power cable -   7. Bi-directional rotation switch -   8. Button for unlocking the hair roller -   9. Hair roller with universal coupling -   10. Means for attaching the hair lock -   11. Microswitch for activating the heating means and optionally     measuring the temperature -   12. Lock for locking the hair roller on the rotary drum -   13. Rotary drum with no hole suitable for heating hair rollers by     conduction or induction -   14. Induction coil -   15. Electronic unit for managing the induction heating means -   16. Motor for driving the rotary drum -   17. Ion generator -   18. Means for generating an air flow -   19. Heating means (resistor, PTC, etc.) -   20. Motor for driving the fan or turbine -   21. Thermal insulation -   22. Holder for the heating resistor -   23. Air intake grate -   24. Transition with bearing -   25. Electronic unit for managing the conduction heating means -   26. Heating core -   27. Driving rib for the rotary drum -   28. Sealing disc of the hair roller

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is amply illustrated in the 16 figures of the description using numerical references. Like all electrical hair processing devices, the hair roller winder 1 according to the present invention comprises a power cable 6 and an On/Off switch 5 that may optionally be associated with increasing heating and/or blowing levels.

The motorized hair roller winder 1 according to the present invention combines the functions of heating the hair roller and motorized winding. To that end, it comprises heating means 19 well known by those skilled in the art, such as hot air generated using a fan or turbine and a heating resistor, conduction heating through a heating core 26 within the rotary drum 2, or an element allowing induction heating using a coil 14. The latter two types of heating require the presence of an electronic management unit 15, 25 in the handle 4 of the winder 1.

The hair rollers 9 used must be adapted to the heating means used. Thus, for hot-air heating means 19, hair rollers will be used comprising hot air exhaust openings, whereas for conduction heating means 19 using a heating core 26 or an induction coil 14, “closed” hair rollers 9 will rather be used, like those illustrated in FIG. 8, to ensure maximal contact between the winding drum 2 and the hair roller 9.

The main difficulty in combining these two functions within a same device is the bulk of the various elements, which must be reduced as much as possible so that the device maintains a manageable size.

The advantage of positioning means 19 for heating the hair rollers directly within the winder is that there is no interruption in the heating of the roller 9. During winding of the hair lock around the hair roller 9, the latter continues to be heated by the heating means (hot air, conduction or induction) coming from the rotary drum 2 and only ceases to be heated once released (unlocked) from the rotary drum 2.

The method for winding a hair lock around a hair roller 9 using the winder 1 according to the invention begins by adapting or locking a hair roller on the winding drum 2. The lock 12 of the hair roller 9 is located on the rotary drum 2. This gesture is illustrated in FIG. 10. Next, the hair roller-winder assembly is placed on the hair lock to be wound (FIG. 11) and the winder is activated using the rotation switch 7. The hair lock (FIGS. 12 and 13) is then wound to the end. The rotation switch 7 is bidirectional, and it therefore allows to rotate the winding drum 2 in both rotation directions. The winder 1 according to the invention is equipped with a torsion limiter (not shown) that is activated beyond a certain force torque threshold developed by the rotary drum 2 so that it automatically stops when the hair lock is wound. The hair roller 9 is then unlocked (FIG. 14) using the unlocking button 8. The threshold for activating the torsion limiter is adjustable so as to account for the different diameters of the hair rollers 9.

When a new hair roller 9 is fitted on the rotary drum 2, it is also possible to automatically activate the heating means 19 of the hair roller 9 using an activating microswitch 11 located on the rotary drum 2. The activating microswitch 11 may also be combined with a temperature probe (not shown) allowing to give the signal to turn off the heating means 19 beyond a defined temperature threshold. This allows to control the risk of subjecting hair to an excessively high temperature.

Depending on the equipment chosen for the device, and therefore on the space available in the handle 4, the motor rotating the driving drum may be located in the handle 4 or in the rotary drum 2 itself. The configuration where the driving motor 16 is located within the rotary drum 2 is outlined in FIGS. 5 and 6. Here, means for generating a flow of air 18 are driven by a motor 20 and send the air heated by the resistor 19 into the winding drum 2, which also comprises the driving motor 16 for the drum. The fastening of the motor comprises a transmission with a bearing 24 and insulation for the motor 21. The air flow depicted by the black arrows in FIG. 6 is directly oriented on the hair roller 9, which allows to heat it up and to maintain its temperature throughout the entire winding operation, and even further.

Different diameters of hair rollers 9 may be applied on the rotary drum 2, the inner diameter of the hair roller 9 nevertheless being invariable so as to be able to be adapted on the rotary drum 2, the diameter of which is invariable. FIG. 1 shows hair rollers with different diameters, optionally with air outlet openings and a sealing disc 28 that allows a favored outlet for the hot air toward the hair lock and a relatively uniform heat distribution, and therefore a relatively uniform temperature of the hair roller 9. The hair rollers 9 comprise a driving rib 27 allowing to fasten the hair roller 2 on the winding drum 9. As mentioned above, the shape and material used for the hair rollers must be adapted to the heating means. For induction heating, ferromagnetic hair rollers will preferably be used, and for conduction in general good conductive metals. Hot-air heating allows the use of a wider range of materials.

Different means 10 also exist for fastening the hair lock on the hair roller 9. Non-limiting examples of these fastening means 10 are shown in FIG. 16.

The hair roller winder according to the present invention may also comprise an ion generator 17. Such an ion generator may be particularly advantageous for placing hair rollers on dry hair. This alternative will be preferred with a hot air flow heating means, as it allows to blow the ions directly on the hair roller. 

1. A motorized hair roller winder (1) capable of receiving a removable hair roller, said winder comprising a handle (4) and a rotary drum (2) driven by a motor (16) allowing, during use, to wind a lock of hair around said hair roller (9) fixed beforehand on the winder, characterized in that said winder (1) comprises integrated heating means (19) allowing to heat the hair roller (9) until said hair roller (9) is removed from the rotary drum (2).
 2. The hair roller winder (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said winder (1) comprises a mechanism (8, 12) for locking and unlocking the hair roller (9) on the rotary drum (2).
 3. The hair roller winder (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said winder (1) comprises a mechanism (11) for automatically engaging heating when the hair roller (9) is fixed on the rotary drum (2).
 4. The hair roller winder (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the handle (4) is located in the axis of the hair roller winder (1).
 5. The hair roller winder (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said winder (1) comprises a torsion-limiting mechanism.
 6. The hair roller winder (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said winder (1) comprises an ion generator (17).
 7. The hair roller winder (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating means (19) use hot-air heating, conduction heating or induction heating.
 8. The hair roller winder (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating means (19) use hot-air heating.
 9. The hair roller winder (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the driving drum comprises air outlet holes (3) allowing the hot air to be in contact with the hair roller (9).
 10. The hair roller winder (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the motor (16) driving the rotation of the drum (2) is located in the handle (4), or in the rotary drum (2) of the hair roller (9).
 11. A method for winding a lock of hair around a hair roller (9) using the hair roller winder (1) according to claim 1, comprising the following steps: fastening a hair roller (9) on the rotary drum (2) of the hair roller winder (1); activating the heating means (19) of the hair roller (9); winding a lock of hair around the hair roller (9) by actuating the rotary drum (2) using a rotation switch (7); releasing the hair roller (9).
 12. A hair styling kit comprising a hair roller winder (1) according to claim 1 and a set of hair rollers. 